FROM K. KAUTSKY'S ARTICLE "VOLLMAR AND STATE SOCIALISM"

[Not later than March 1902]

A magnificent article by K. **K a u t s k y**: "Vollmar und der Staatssozialismus" ("Neue Zeit", X, 2, 705—713; 1891—2, No. 49) — examines Vollmar's pamphlet (on state socialism). K. Kautsky takes Rodbertus's state socialism as his model and very clearly, with a series of excellently selected quotations, demonstrates that its distinctive feature is the aspiration to reconcile classes. Class struggle was a nightmare for Rodbertus (707).

"Reconciliation of the classes of society under the aegis of and in accordance with the brilliant [principle] of 'to each his own'" (to each his own, the motto of the Hohenzollerns) (707). "Lasting social peace, a unified political governmental power, a firm unity filled with trust between the working classes and this power ... — such is the preliminary condition for the resolution of the social question." (Cited from Rodbertus. 708.)

According to Rodbertus: "The practical work of today cannot be directed toward hastening the advent of communism and toward bringing the working classes to the maturity and strength necessary for this; rather, the practical work of today must set itself the task of further strengthening landed and capitalist property, eliminating the negative phenomena which are now connected with them and embitter the working classes" (707).

Further, very apt remarks on nationalization of land:

... In Switzerland, for example, social-democracy can put forward demands such as nationalization of the grain trade ... In Germany, no.

In England advanced workers can demand nationalization of land. But to what would this lead if all the land of such a military and police state as Germany became the property of the state (einer Domäne)? We find the realization of state socialism of this sort, at least to a considerable degree — in Mecklenburg (710).

K. Kautsky is entirely in disagreement with Vollmar that state socialism is no longer dangerous for Germans. The government will not always maintain a peaceful policy as it does now. The carrot or the stick? and if the former, then Brentano or Rodbertus? (712). Rodbertus is closer. "If then (= in the event of the government turning to state socialism in the Rodbertusian sense) an experienced statesman stood at the head of the government, state socialism would become even more dangerous for social-democracy, inasmuch as it would introduce confusion into our ranks, more dangerous than the Kaiser's embassy of 1881, because our movement has since grown extraordinarily and it is difficult to expect that the masses of new recruits already sit firmly in the saddle. All the more necessary is it to take timely care to conduct appropriate educational work among the masses" (713).

K. Kautsky is opposed to speaking of state socialism in the program — better in a resolution. He does not wish a complete disavowal of Vollmar either, as in Ortel's proposal, and repeats in conclusion that he does not see in Vollmar's pamphlet any great violation of the principles and tactics of social-democracy.

**Article by Ed. Bernstein: "The Social Doctrine of Anarchism"** with detailed (orthodox) critique of Proudhon. (X, 2, 1891—2)

In this same volume note:

Kautsky's critical remarks on the book by **L u x** (Socio-Political Handbook): point out a mass of statistical errors and principled falsehoods.

**Mehring's review** of Kurt Eisner's book on Nietzsche. (Mehring disputes with Eisner and encourages his transition from Nietzsche to socialism.)

**Note on basement dwellings** of Warsaw (according to Results of the Sanitary Census of the City of Warsaw. Volume I).

**Article by S h i p p e l** on the Mecklenburg constitution and on the trade union movement in Germany.

"Estates yielding rent in Prussia". From manuscript.

||**Article: The proletariat in Austria.**||

Detailed article by **Blazko** on prostitution.

Long article by **Ed. Bernstein: On the Commemoration of Fr. Albert Lange**.

Here also **"Ede"*** (1892!! April 1892) comes out in favor of materialism: "In his article Engels clearly refuted Feuerbach's theory of the impossibility of knowing the world" (103).

... "Philosophical criticism most likely, to indulge its 'final and strongest doubt,' exaggerates the limitations of human cognition" (104).

... Can one speak scientifically of the "primordial and unchangeable" (Lange) state of human Reason? Has human Reason now remained the same as it was "originally"?

... "Criticism ends in the church" (105).

[Poor "Ede"! How soon you "faded"!]

S. 106: Philosophical materialism is in most cases connected with practical idealism and vice versa (sic!!!). Lange has not freed himself from the striving, "which, incidentally, is characteristic of all reformists," to soften and obscure class struggle and the fundamental contradictions of capitalism. [Bernstein — against reformers and for principled "revolutionariness"!!] (Critical remarks against Lange's Malthusianism, etc.)

* Eduard Bernstein.